Alcohol Policy | Policies

Alcohol Policy

The sale, service, possession, and consumption of alcoholic beverages at Teachers College (the “College”) is governed by the New York State Alcoholic Beverage Control Law and other New York State and New York City laws, and by College policy.

Teachers College is committed to providing an academic, living and working environment that supports individual freedom while promoting individual responsibility, health and safety, and community welfare. It is based on these laws and principles that Teachers College has developed this Policy concerning the sale, service, possession and consumption of alcohol.

The following rules are applicable to:

a)     all events at which alcoholic beverages are served or sold at Teachers College and/or its student residence halls; 

b)    all events, whether or not at Teachers College, that are sponsored by the College or by any College organization, department, or office; and 

c)     all Teachers College activities, whether they occur at the College or not.

1. Persons under the age of 21 years are prohibited from possessing or consuming alcohol at the College, within its student residence halls, or at any event sponsored by the College or by any College organization, department or office, whether the event is at the College or not.
2. No person shall be sold or served any alcoholic beverage if:

• That person is, or appears to be, under the legal drinking age of 21; or
• That peson is, or seems to be, intoxicated.

3. No person under the age of 21 years shall misrepresent or proffer any false evidence of their age in order to obtain or try to obtain any alcoholic beverage or to gain access to any event or activity at which any alcoholic beverage is being sold or served.

4. No alcoholic beverage shall be sold to any person unless:

• A license or permit sanctioning the sale of such alcoholic beverage has been obstained by the seller; and
• The license or permit sanctioning such sale and any posters, signs, notices or other material or information required by applicable law or by the State Liquor Authority are prominently displayed at the site of such sales.

5. The individual(s) and/or group(s) sponsoring an event or activity at which any alcoholic beverage is to be sold or served (the “Sponsor”) shall be responsible for ensuring that all laws and regulations[1]and all Teachers College rules and regulations regarding the sale, service, possession, and consumption of alcoholic beverages are observed at such event or activity. This responsibility shall include, without being limited to, the following:

• The event or activity must comply with this Policy, including effective procedures for examining attendees' evidence of age.
• As part of the request to use College facilities, the Sponsor must notify the Office of Room Assignments of any event at which alcoholic beverages are to be sold or served.
• Student groups sponsoring events at which alcoholic beverages are to be sold or served must notify the Office of Student Affairs prior to the event.
• The Sponsor shall instruct the person or persons actually selling or serving alcoholic beverages not to sell or serve alcoholic beverages to any person who is or appears to be intoxicated, or whom such server or seller knows to be a problem drinker, or who is or appears to be under the legal drinking age. In addition, specific policies, procedures, and regulations governing particular facilities or populations may be developed by the persons or offices authorized to do so in conjunction with the Office of Public Safety.

6. Actions or situations that recklessly or intentionally endanger mental or physical health or involve forced consumption of alcohol or drugs in connection with initiation into or affiliation with any organization are strictly prohibited.

7. The use of alcohol or drugs is never an excuse for committing any College policy violation.  Regarding gender-based misconduct, the use of alcohol or drugs never makes someone at fault for experiencing gender-based misconduct and does not diminish anyone’s responsibility to obtain informed and freely given consent to sexual activity.

8. Violations of this Policy or of any related laws are subject to College disciplinary codes and policies. Sanctions which may be assessed against violators include, for students, suspension and expulsion, and for employees, discharge. Visitors who violate this Policy may be ejected from the event, from the campus or banned from the College.

The health and safety of every student at the College is of utmost importance. Anyone in the presence of a severely intoxicated or apparently impaired person is encouraged to contact appropriate College or local medical or safety personnel immediately.  The College recognizes that students who have been drinking and/or using drugs (whether such use is voluntary or involuntary) at the time that gender-based misconduct occurs may be hesitant to report such incidents due to fear of potential consequences for their own conduct.  Because the College strongly encourages students to report gender-based misconduct (including but not limited to sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking) to College employees, the College has adopted the following policy: A student (including a bystander), acting in good faith, who discloses any incident of gender-based misconduct to a College employee or law enforcement will not be subject to subsequent disciplinary action by the College for violations related to the possession and/or use of alcohol and/or drugs occurring at or near the time of the gender-based misconduct, whether use and/or possession is intentional or accidental. This does not apply to those who use alcohol or drugs as a weapon or to facilitate assault.

 9. Faculty, staff and students as well as contractors and visitors should also be aware that, in addition to College sanctions, they may be subject to criminal penalties for unlawful manufacture, possession, service, or sale of alcoholic beverages to a person under the age of 21 years.  For more information about relevant federal, state and local alcohol laws, see the College’s Drug Free Campus Policy:  https://www.tc.columbia.edu/policylibrary/policies/drug-free-campus-1222584/

Responsible office: The Office of Public Safety
Last updated: November 9, 2017